Chapter Fourteen

Jared did his benchmark assignment four weeks early. It was a project presentation on the Four Founding Fathers. It was a big piece, and they assigned it two days ago. In fact, it was Wednesday, and all his work was already done. He liked it this way. It gave him the rest of the week off from doing any homework.
He flips through the PowerPoint slides, going over it again to make sure everything was there and that there were no mistakes. The door to his room opens and his mother peeks in.
"Someone is here to see you."
Evan sits up from the extra bed that was there for his use. "Me or Jared?" He asks her.
"Jared." She replies with a nod in his direction.
He looks at her, wondering who it could be this late at night. Gale walks in the room when she opens it wider. He was about six foot one with light brown hair that was just getting lighter by the day with the grey that was starting to show. He was still nicely built for an old man, so you can tell he really takes care of himself.
He was intimidating if you didn't already know the kindred soul that was within him. He was like a giant teddy bear come to life or so Selena had mentioned anyways.
"Hello Mr. Jackman." Evan said formally, sitting up straighter looking mildly uncomfortable.
Jared smiled at his best friend's reaction. Evan happened to be one of those people who were intimidated.
"Mr. Connor." He said politely.
He looks over to Jared. "How are you this evening?" He asked him.
Jared smirks with a little confusion. "Good, I guess. You?"
He was a bit confused on his sudden appearance. He had literally just been over Mila's house for dinner earlier. So, seeing him here now was a bit of a surprise. But he was glad he showed up. He needed to get some things off his chest that he wasn't able to do when they were all seated at the table. He had wanted to talk to him, but the opportunity never presented itself to do it.
Mila's grandfather proved to be the one person who listened and understood that sometimes people just needed to vent their frustrations without judgement. And right now, he really needed to vent.
"Fine, thank you." He places his hands behind his back and rocks a bit of his feet. "So, what have you boys been up too?"
He went over and sat down on Jared's bed. It made Evan a little nervous that the old man was so close. Gale looked at him sternly.
"I hear you're taking my Mila to the Homecoming dance." He said to him.
It wasn't a question but a statement. Evan squirmed a bit, not directly looking in his eyes.
"Um, yes sir." His voice was a bit meek.
Jared looked away, wanting to tune out of the conversation between them. The gesture didn't escape Gale, however.
"You know what happens to young men who does anything to either take advantage of hurt my pumpkin?" He leans a bit closer to the scared young boy.
"I'm pretty sure it won't be good?" Evan's tone went up an octave.
"Damn right it won't. So, you'll know what to expect from me if it does happen then right?"
He looked nervous and pale when he replied, "Yes, sir."
"Good! Now then, Jared, how about you and I go for a little walk?" He got up and didn't wait for a response from him and walked out of the room.
Jared gets up and grabbed his jacket.
"I will never understand how you can be anywhere near him and not flinch. The man is terrifying." Evan tells him.
He just laughs. "And just think, if you want Mila you'll have to take him into the bargain."
He laughs again at the look of pure fear on Evan's face. It was priceless. He zips up his coat and followed the old man outside of the house, leaving his fear stricken friend behind in the room.
He met Gale on the front porch in the fading sunlight. It was chilly and the smell of Autumn was in the air. Gale was standing there quietly watching the sunset with its beautiful colors of pink, orange, a hint of golden yellow with blood red.
It was mesmerizing as if God himself painted the sky.
He stepped up beside him and together, without a word being spoken, looked at the scenery before them. Jared didn't realize his mother was watching them from the kitchen window. It was such a kodak moment that she ran and got her camera. She stepped out without making a sound, not wanting to disturb this beautiful moment.
She got the right angle with the sunset in the background as their backs were facing her. Both having their hands in their coat pockets. Jared wore a hoodie sweater while Gale wore a brown leather jacket. She took the shot and flinched at the clicking sound that it made.
She sighed in relief when they seemed to have not heard. She quietly goes back inside and shuts the door gently. She leaned against the other side and smiled. Jared's grandparents died a few years back when he was only five years old. His grandfather on his dad's side died before he had even been born.
They would have been so proud of him, and she felt a sharp pain in her chest knowing that her children would never get to know the people they had been. To never receive a grandparent's love. To not know what it would be like to have them spoil you rotten and give them the advice that a parent wouldn't be able to give. To tell them their own life stories of growing up in a different time than their own.
She was glad they met Gale Jackman because even though he wasn't their grandfather, he treated them as if they were his very own. And he took to Jared, knowing he needed guidance more than anything right now.
Her husband was so busy with work and providing for them that he was beginning to lack in that department. But she knew he was trying his best with his children. It just wasn't enough, sadly. She sighed again and walks away to go print out the picture.
Gale looked at the young man standing next to him. "Well, shall we move on?" He asked.
Jared nodded his agreement, and they start walking down the driveway and onto the sidewalk.
"So, I know something is bothering you. Noticed it when I was talking to your friend."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm taking your granddaughter to the dance, I guess." He stated with a little bitterness in his tone.
Gale grunts at that. "Apparently the wrong one it seems. I talked to Mila earlier today. Why the sudden change?"
He stayed quiet for a moment to gather his thoughts. Pondering on what and how much to reveal. "Well, a guilty conscience for starters. I guess I felt bad how I treated the situation and Kristan. And even though she's a pain in the ass, she doesn't deserve that, not from me."
He decided to go with the excuse he gave everyone else. Even though that part was true too.
Gale looked at him with intensity. "Here, let's sit down on the park bench."
They came to the pond that was at the back of Jared's house. They sat down and gazed out at the water where a few ducks and geese were paddling along letting their noises be heard.
"Evan really likes Mila a lot. So, maybe I thought they should be the ones to go together instead." He said wistfully.
Gale heard the catch in his voice and wondered about it. He had his suspicions, had actually wondered about for quite some time now. "What about you, Jared?" he asked softly, watching the boy's features as he continued to stare out at the small lake.
Jared jerks back a little, blinking. "What about me?"
Gale wasn't stupid, he may not know today's gadgets and the new technology, but he wasn't born yesterday. And he also knew Jared wasn't either. He knew exactly what he meant. Seeing the look on the old man's face, Jared sighed, his shoulders slouching in defeat.
"Can you keep a secret?'
The old man laughs making him smile.
"Well, I guess I didn't really need to ask that did I?"
Gale just shook his head. "You know me a lot better than you think, boy."
They both chuckle a little then Jared became sober and sighed heavily. Having a difficult time getting the words out, he knew he could trust Mila's grandfather with this secret. He knew he wouldn't tell another living soul about his confession. It was just that he never told anyone, and he had held it in for a long time.
But before he could say a single word, Gale said it for him.
"You're in love with my granddaughter, aren't you."
It wasn't really a question as his eyes shined bright with the already known knowledge. Jared doesn't say a word as he looks back out towards the pond again.
"Yes." He whispered softly. "To the point where I can't sleep anymore."
Gale nodded his head and gets up, grunting as his tired old bones ached from the movement. "Good." He stated firmly. "Very good."
He pats his shoulder and smiles down at him. Jared didn't know what to say. This wasn't the kind of reaction he thought he would get. He actually didn't know what kind of reaction he was going to get from him honestly, but this wasn't it.
They started walking back as the night started to get chillier. "What do you think I should do?" He asked him.
Gale sighed deeply. "Well, that is the question, isn't it?"
They stopped at the back porch of Jared's house. "Your friend likes her, so you feel depressed because he's your best friend. Do you know how she feels for either of you?"
He looks away feeling pain shoot through his chest. "I know she does have feelings for Evan. It's hard not to notice it."
Gale feels sympathy for this young man he came to care so much about within such a short amount of time. "I understand, I'm sorry this is happening to you." He said with feeling.
Jared crossed his arms over his chest as if he wanted to ward off the pain that kept shooting through him like an arrow piercing the bullseye at target practice.
"How about I take you to get a treat? Feel like having some ice cream at the parlor?" He asked, wishing there was something that he could do for him to lessen the pain.
Jared gives him a small smile. "That actually sounds awesome."
"Good. Then let's go tell your mother. I'm really looking toward to that Rocky Road."